Businesses today are faced with several ethical challenges.

Critical decisions have to be made to

ensure we are protecting personal freedoms and using data appropriately.

Misuse of Personal Information

One of the primary ethical dilemmas in our technologically empowered age revolves around
how businesses use personal information. As we browse internet sites, make online purchases,
enter our information on websites, engage with different businesses online and participate in
social media, we are constantly providing personal details. Companies often gather information
to hyper-personalize our online experiences, but to what extent is that information actually
impeding our right to privacy?

Personal information is the new gold, as the saying goes. We have commoditized data because
of the value it provides to businesses attempting to reach their consumer base. But when does
it go too far? For businesses, it’s extremely valuable to know what kind of products are being
searched for and what type of content people are consuming the most. For political figures, it’s
important to know what kind of social or legal issues are getting the most attention. These
valuable data points are often exploited so that businesses or entities can make money or
advance their goals. Facebook in particular has come under fire several times over the years for
selling personal data it gathers on its platform.

Use of AI

Artificial intelligence certainly offers great business potential. But, at what point do AI systems
cross an ethical line into dangerous territory?

 Facial recognition: Use of software to find individuals can quickly become a less-than-
ethical problem. There are various concerns about facial recognition, such as misuse,
racial bias and restriction of personal freedoms. The ability to track movements and
activity quickly morphs into a lack of privacy and can create bias in certain situations.
 Replacement of jobs: While this is anticipated to a certain degree, AI is meant to increase
automation of low-level tasks in many situations so that human resources can be used on
more strategic initiatives and complicated job duties. The large-scale elimination of jobs
has many workers concerned about job security, but AI is more likely to lead to job
creation.
 Health tracking: The pandemic brought contact tracing into the mainstream. Is it ethical
to track the health status of people and how will that impact the limitations we place on
them?
 Bias in AI technology: Technology is built by programmers and inherits the bias of its
creators because humans inherently have bias. “Technology is inherently flawed. Does it
even matter who developed the algorithms? AI systems learn to make decisions based on
 training and coding data, which can be tainted by human bias or reflect historical or social
inequities,”

Autonomous Technology

Self-driving cars, robotic weapons and drones for service are no longer a thing of the future—
they’re a thing of the present and they come with ethical dilemmas. Robotic machines in place
of human soldiers is a very real possibility, along with self-driving cars and package delivery via
unmanned drone.

Autonomous technology packs a punch when it comes to business potential, but there is
significant concern that comes with allowing programmed technology to operate seemingly
without needed oversight. It’s a frequently mentioned ethical concern that we trust our
technology too much without fully understanding it.

Ethical Practices in Technology

Unlike business ethics, ethical technology is about ensuring there is a moral relationship that
exists between technology and users.

Respect for Employees and Customers

Businesses that engage in ethical technology have a firm moral sense of employee rights and
customer protections. Data is valuable, but the employees and customers who power your
business are undoubtedly your greatest asset. Take care to always observe responsible
protections for employees and customers to practice ethical technology.

Moral Use of Data and Resources

Data is undoubtedly something of value for businesses. It allows companies to target their
marketing strategies and refine product offerings, but it can also be an invasive use of privacy
bringing many ethical considerations to the forefront. Data protection measures and
compliance procedures can help ensure that data isn’t leaked or used inappropriately.

Responsible Adoption of Disruptive Tech

Digital growth is a business reality. Disruptive tech often isn’t just a way to outpace the
competition—it’s the only way to break even. But embracing new technologies doesn’t have to
coincide with an ethical challenge. Do your due diligence to ensure that the technology you
adopt has protections in place and you’ll be well on your way to practicing ethical tech.
Create a Culture of Responsibility

Ultimately, we need to create a culture of responsibility within technology. If the information

technology workforce and industry giants believe they are responsible for the safe and ethical
usage of technology, then we will see more governance and fair use of data.

Emerging ethical dilemmas in science and technology

New ethical problems regarding the use of science and technology are always arising. When is it
right to use science and technology to apply to real-life scenarios and when does it impede
human rights?

 Health tracking and the digital twin dilemma: Should organizations be able to create your
twin in code and experiment on it to advance healthcare initiatives? And when does that
become a practice of exploitation?
 Genetic engineering: While possessing great potential for human health and the recovery
from damaging genetic mutations, there are considerable ethical considerations that
surround the editing of the human genome.

Ethical decisions in technology should not be taken lightly. If we believe that technology can
help to solve the world’s problems, addressing the ethics involved is the only way to us get
there.